Optimization Of Reaction Parameters For Biodiesel Production From ACPO Using Different Catalysts Biodiesel Production

Journal of Multidisciplinary Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST) ISSN: 3159-0040 Vol. 2 Issue 12, December - 2015 Optimization Of Reaction Par...
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Journal of Multidisciplinary Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST) ISSN: 3159-0040 Vol. 2 Issue 12, December - 2015

Optimization Of Reaction Parameters For Biodiesel Production From ACPO Using Different Catalysts Biodiesel Production Shweta Ghatikar Dept of Biotechnology Sir.M.Visvesvaraya Institute of Technology Bangalore, India [email protected]

Guide:Mr.Manjunath R Asst Professor, Dept of Biotechnology Sir.M.Visvesvaraya Institute of Technology Bangalore, India [email protected]

Abstract— The alternative fuel Biodiesel though has enormous beneficial impacts, producing it economically is the greatest challenge. In the present study there has been an effort made to produce it economically. Here ACPO (Acidic Grade Crude Palm Oil) a waste was chosen as the feedstock using Sulphuric acid (H2SO4) as a catalyst for esterification followed by another catalyst Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) for trans-esterification. Single parameter optimization technique is adopted towards biodiesel production. The operating parameters like oil to methanol, catalyst concentration and duration were varied in the range (5:0-5:1.8), (2-6%) and (60-120 minutes) respectively with other parameters like temperature and RPM at constant levels. And the derived optimized parameters were oil to methanol ratio - 5:1.6, catalyst (H2SO4) o concentration - 2%, temperature - 60 C, RPM - 400 for 90 minutes duration. With the adoption of optimized parameters the obtained yield was 80.3%. The produced biodiesel was tested for physico-chemical characterization. And the results obtained are comparable to the IS and ASTM standards shows the adoption of the biodiesel in the CI engines without any modifications. Keywords— Biodiesel, ACPO, esterification, trans-esterification, optimization I.

INTRODUCTION

Biodiesel is a fuel of biological origin, an alternative or a substitute to presently using petroleum fuel broadly. Chemically it is the mixture of long chain fatty acids derived from a process said alcoholysis of triglycerides [5]. Indiscriminate usage, limited reserves of fossil fuels, increasing prises, to meet future demands and environment concern worldwide are the key driving factors towards the research and inventions on the alternative fuels. Alternative new and renewable fuels like biodiesel can solve many socioeconomic problems and concerns, from global warming and air pollution to other environmental improvements and sustainability issues. All types of oils can be used for biodiesel

production but edible are expensive and leads the food vs fuel debate. So, producing biodiesel in an economical way is the biggest challenge as discussed earlier. In this context non-edible oils and spent oil wastes from various sectors like hotels and oil milling units etc could be employed as a cheap feedstock for biodiesel production [1]. Generally biodiesel is produced by a method called ‘Trans-esterification’ for the oils with less FFA. It is the reaction between triglycerides and alcohol in the presence of alkaline catalysts like sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide. [11]. Trans-esterification is very sensitive to FFA content of oil. The feedstock with high FFA (>1%) leads to the formation of soap which reduces the catalyst efficiency and increases the viscosity of oil and makes the separation of glycerol very difficult. These all have direct impact and leads to less yield of esters. Oils used in transesterification have to be anhydrous (0.06%) as the presence of moisture leads to the hydrolysis process of some of the produced ester, with consequent soap formation. [1] In our study we have utilized ACPO as a feed stock which is with high FFA level i.e.12.96%. So, the oil needs to be pre-treated (esterification) with catalysts (normally homogeneous acid catalyst) with methanol to reduce FFA level to < 1%. ACPO is a waste obtained in the oil milling process. Esterification is followed by alkaline catalysed trans-esterification process with methanol. Here the main objective of the study was to investigate the adoptability of ACPO as a low cost feedstock and optimization of operating parameters like oil to methanol ratio, catalyst concentration and duration for the reduction of %FFA level to less than 1% and so to produce biodiesel efficiently. II. A.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Materials

ACPO, Methanol, Ethanol, Sulphuric Acid (H 2SO4) and Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) are some of the materials required for the process. B.

Method

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Journal of Multidisciplinary Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST) ISSN: 3159-0040 Vol. 2 Issue 12, December - 2015

In the production of biodiesel two-step catalysis process has been followed i.e. both esterification and trans-esterification steps are followed. For these processes, parameters like catalyst concentration, oil to methanol ratio, and duration are optimized. A pretreatment is done as the oil was with high %FFA (12.96%) level with H2SO4, a homogeneous acid catalyst followed by trans-esterification with NaOH, an alkaline catalyst with the adoption of optimized parameters in the presence of methanol. Experimental setup: The equipment has been fabricated to optimize the process conditions for biodiesel production. Batch stirred tank reactor of 1000 ml has been utilized for carrying out experimental trials where there was a provision to take out the sample during the process. It is equipped with a reflux condenser which are connected in a cascade format, a mechanical stirrer (200-5000 RPM), heating mantle by which the required temperature is maintained and a thermometer pocket to equip the thermometer. The utilization of chilled water increased the condenser efficiency (reducing the temperature of coolant for better reflux). Circulating pumps provides the constant discharge of coolant which is well regulated by providing the by-pass channel. Pre-treatment of ACPO via Acid esterification: ACPO usually exists in a semisolid phase at room temperature. So for moisture removal and for ease of o handling it is preheated to around 70 C, is the prior step of the process as adopted by [3]. After, preheated ACPO was poured into the three necked round bottom flask, a batch reactor for FFA to FAME conversion as a pre-treatment at different dosages using acid catalyst (esterification). Single factor optimization was followed for the process esterification to study: 1. Effect of catalyst concentration ranging (2- 6% w/w) of catalyst. 2.

Ratio of ACPO to methanol (w/w) (5:1– 5:1.8).

3.

Process duration (60- 120 min).

Table. 1. Characteristics of ACPO and their comparison with Palm Oil Parameters

ACPO

Std Palm Oil 0.66

Free Fatty Acid Iodine Value Saponification Value Colour

12.96%

Specific Gravity Acid number

0.97

Straw colour 0.86

17.95

130) 20 -28 to - ASTM D -3 to 12 (P 6) 7 287 0.865 ASTM D 870-900 820 (P 32) 445 4.7 ASTM D 1.9 – 6.0 2.54 (P 25) 97 10 ASTM D -15 to 10 -15 (P 10) 613 186 ASTM D (P 66) 613

CONCLUSION

The study conducted concludes that ACPO is a suitable low cost feedstock towards biodiesel production with pre-treatment using H2SO4 as a catalyst (acidic) using derived optimized parameters such as oil to methanol (5:1.6), H2SO4 catalyst

concentration (2%) w/w, duration (90 minutes), o temperature (60 C), RPM (400). With the adoption of these parameters the %FFA of the feedstock reduced from 12.96% to 0.56%. The yield of the biodiesel was 80.3% and ester content was 95.32% (mol mol -1) with trans-esterification followed by further processing. The results obtained in the current study are comparably nearer to the standards set for it and hence produced biodiesel meets the standard specifications. Like the way different acidic catalysts could be explored in the esterification reaction. The comparative study may assists in highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of different catalysts used for the pre-treatment of acidic oils of various types. ACKNOWLEDGMENT Authors are grateful to the authorities of Sir M.Visvesvaraya Institute of Technology for providing the research facilities. REFERENCES [1] A.Anitha and S.S. Dawn; Performance Characteristics of Biodiesel Produced from Waste Groundnut Oil using Supported Heteropolyacids; International Journal of Chemical Engineering and Applications, Vol. 1, No. 3, October (2010). [2] A.B.M.S.Hossain and M.A.Mazen; Effects of catalysts types and concentrations on biodiesel production from waste soybean oil biomass as renewable energy and environmental recycling process; Australian Journal of Crop Science (2010). [3] A. Hayyan, F.S. Mjalli, M.A. Hashim, M. Hayyan, I.M. AlNashef Conversion of free fatty acids in low grade crude palm oil to methyl esters for biodiesel production using chromosulfuric acid (2012). [4] Amish P. Vyas, Purvi H. Shukla and N. Subrahmanyam; Production of Biodiesel using Homogeneous Alkali Catalyst and its Effect on Vehicular Emission (2011). [5] Divya Bajpaiband V.K.Tyagi; Biodiesel: source, Production, Composition, Properties and Its Benefits; Journl of oleo science Vol 55, No. 10, 487502 (2006). [6] Godlisten G.Kombe, Abraham K. Temu, Hassan M.Rajabu, Godwill D. Mrema, Jibrail Kansedo,Keat Teong Lee; Pre- Treatment of High Free Fatty Acid Oils by Chemical Re-Esterification forBiodiesel Production- A Review; Advances in Chemical Engneering and Science , 242-247 (2013). [7] Kumartiwari A. K, Kumar A, Raheman H; Biodiesel productionfrom jatropha oil (Jatropha curcas) with high free fatty acids; An optimized process. Biomass. Bioenerg;(2007) [8] Matthew B. Boucher, Steven A. Unker, Kyle R. Hawley,Benjamin A. Wilhite, James D. Stuart and Richard S. Parnas; Variables affecting homogeneous acid catalyst recoverability and reuse after

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esterification of polyunsaturated fatty triglycerides (2008).

concentrated omega-9 acids in vegetable oil

[9] Meng X.; Yang Y.; Xu X.; Zhang L.; Nie Q.; Xian M. Biodiesel production from oleaginous microorganisms. Renew. Energ. 34:1–5; (2009). [10] Naik M.; Meher L. C.; Naik S. N.; Das L. M. Production of biodiesel from high free fatty acid Karanja (Pongamia pinnata) oil. Biomass. Bioenerg. 32: 354–357; (2008).

[11] S.P. Singh, Dipti Singh; Biodiesel production through the use of different sources and characterization of oils and their esters as the substitute of diesel: A review. (2010). [12] Viele, E. L*, Chukwuma, F.O. and Uyigue, L. Esterification of high free fatty acid crude palm kernel oil as feedstock for base-catalyzed transesterification reaction International Journal of Application or Innovation in Engineering & Management (IJAIEM) Volume 2, Issue 12,( December 2013.)

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